Kian stared at the screen. Julian's smug face, Croft's sinister grin. A fist tightened at his side. They wanted a war? He'd give them one. But Leo came first. Always.
Pacing his office, Kian's mind raced. Julian's video wasn't just a threat; it was a declaration. A public assault on his character, designed to derail everything. His every instinct screamed caution, but Leo's fading strength screamed louder.
"Dr. Albright," Kian's voice was sharp, cutting through the sterile silence of the video call. "We're moving forward. Expedite the Novus Pharma protocol. I want a timeline, a complete risk assessment, and every single resource allocated."
Albright's brow furrowed. "Mr. Vance, we discussed the ethical implications. The FDA hasn't given full approval. This is an experimental, last-resort measure. And the optics, especially with recent rumors..."
Kian cut him off. "Optics be damned. My son's life is on the line. I understand the risks. I accept them. Just tell me what you need, and I'll make it happen."
Albright sighed, a weary sound. "Very well. We'll need to secure the latest batch of the proprietary enzyme. It's incredibly sensitive, custom-synthesized by Novus in their Swiss lab, and has a very short shelf life once activated."
"Get it," Kian commanded. "Whatever it takes. Charter a private jet. Have a medical team meet it. I don't care about the cost. I care about Leo."
Minutes later, Kian was on another call, his legal team. "Julian Thorne and Silas Croft have aligned," he stated, his voice flat with resolve. "They're going to try and use Leo's treatment against me. Dig into Croft. Find everything. Every shady deal, every bypassed regulation, every corner cut."
His lead counsel, Evelyn Reed, nodded grimly. "We anticipated something like this, Mr. Vance. Croft has a long history of questionable practices. We've already started compiling a dossier."
"Good," Kian said, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "I want it ready. The moment they make their move, I want to hit back harder. We will expose them both."
Staring out at the city lights, Kian felt the immense weight of his decisions. He was walking a tightrope, balancing Leo's survival against his own integrity, against a public witch hunt. But what choice did he have? Elara's tear-streaked face, Leo's fragile smile—they were his compass.
He pictured Elara. Her strength, her unwavering hope. He had to be strong for her, for Leo. This fight wasn't just about medicine; it was about protecting his family from a predator like Julian.
Hours melted into a blur of calls, emails, and frantic planning. Every detail was scrutinized, every potential roadblock anticipated. The Novus Pharma team was mobilized, their top scientists preparing the enzyme. A dedicated transport team was arranged.
Leo's condition, though stable, remained critical. Dr. Albright had warned Kian that time was a luxury they didn't possess. The experimental treatment offered a sliver of hope, a desperate gamble, but it was their *only* hope.
Activating the enzyme was a delicate process. It had to be administered within hours of its final synthesis. The logistics were a nightmare of precision and timing, involving multiple international transfers and specialized handling.
Kian felt a flicker of grim satisfaction. He was fighting back. Julian and Croft wouldn't get away with this. He'd protect Leo, expose their corruption, and then... then he'd make Julian pay for every ounce of pain he'd inflicted.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. An urgent notification from Dr. Albright. Kian's heart hammered against his ribs. He immediately answered.
"Mr. Vance," Albright's voice was strained. "There's a problem. The enzyme. It's... delayed."
Kian felt a cold wave wash over him. "Delayed? What do you mean, 'delayed'?" His voice was barely a whisper.
"The customs office in Zurich," Albright explained, his words rapid-fire. "They're citing an unexpected 'administrative hold' on the shipment. An unusual, unprecedented delay for a medical priority package."
A chill snaked down Kian's spine. "An administrative hold?" he repeated, his mind already racing, connecting the dots. "This isn't random, is it, Doctor?"
Albright hesitated. "I can't say for certain, but the timing... it's highly suspicious. We're getting pushback at every turn. It seems almost... targeted."
Targeted. Julian. Croft. Kian's jaw clenched so hard he felt a headache blooming behind his eyes. They weren't just threatening; they were actively sabotaging.
"How long?" Kian demanded, his voice now a low growl. "How long will this 'hold' last? And what does it mean for Leo?"
"They're saying it could be anywhere from twenty-four to seventy-two hours," Albright replied, dread lacing his tone. "And the enzyme's viability window... we're looking at a maximum of forty-eight hours from synthesis. Every moment counts, Mr. Vance. This delay could make the treatment impossible."
Impossibly, Kian's world seemed to tilt. Seventy-two hours. Forty-eight-hour window. The numbers screamed catastrophe.
His knuckles whitened as he gripped his phone. They were deliberately putting Leo's life at risk. This wasn't just corporate espionage or a smear campaign anymore. This was attempted murder.
"Do whatever it takes," Kian ordered, his voice laced with a dangerous calm. "Call every contact, every embassy, every lawyer. Get that enzyme moving. Now."
His gaze fell upon a framed photo on his desk: Elara, Leo in her arms, both smiling. A surge of protective fury unlike anything he'd ever known ignited within him. Julian Thorne and Silas Croft had just made the gravest mistake of their lives. They had underestimated a father's love. They would regret it.
The clock was ticking. Faster than ever before.